he main cabin; a chart of the coast was produced; and after a
considerable amount of discussion it was finally determined to
provision, water, and equip the longboat, remain hove-to where they were
until nightfall, and then, filling on the ship, work her in toward the
land until she was as close inshore as it would be prudent to take her,
when the longboat was to be hoisted out and dispatched with a crew of
four men, under the command of Marshall himself--who was the only man
aboard who could speak Spanish reasonably well. Then, while the
_Adventure_, under Bascomb's command, bore up again and regained an
offing of some thirty miles due west of Cartagena, the longboat was to
proceed inshore, enter the bight between the island of Baru and the
mainland, and there remain in concealment while Marshall should attempt
to make his way into Cartagena harbour, and, if necessary, even
penetrate into the town itself, in an endeavour to secure precise
information relative to the movements of the plate ship. It was further
arranged that the _Adventure_ should remain in the offing during the
whole of the succeeding day, working in toward the land again after
nightfall, and hoisting two lanterns, one over the other, at her ensign
staff as a guide for the longboat--should the latter by that time have
accomplished her mission. A bright lookout was to be maintained for the
longboat, which was to signal her approach by displaying a single
lantern; but should she be unable for any reason to rejoin the ship on
the night agreed upon, the same tactics were to be pursued night after
night for six nights; when, if she did not then return, it was to be
assumed that she and her crew had fallen into the hands of the
Spaniards, and Bascomb was to act as might be determined upon after
consultation with the rest of the officers.

This arrangement, then, was adhered to; the _Adventure_ remained hove-to
in the offing during the whole of that day, filling away and beginning
to work in toward the land about half an hour before sunset. Captain
Marshall then picked his longboat's crew--which consisted of Dick
Chichester, George Burton, Robert Hogan, and Edward Fenner--and directed
them to make all necessary preparations for accompanying him; after
which they were to turn in and take their rest until they should be
summoned on deck.

It was just half-past two o'clock in the morning when Dick, having been
aroused from a sound sleep by the cabin boy, pre